DEAR DR. FOX: The American Kennel Club inspection program of breeders' kennels is a sham. Their standards of care are bare minimum and can best be described as "survival standards" and certainly not humane standards of care. For example, the dog's primary enclosure needs to be only large enough so the dog "can sit, stand, lie down or turn around." This tiny space is the required living space for a breeding dog for her entire existence. Most troubling, there is no enforcement of the standards of care. According to the AKC, the breeder is given at least one week's notice before the inspection. One need only review the paltry number of suspensions handed out by the AKC based on the findings of their inspectors to recognize the lack of enforcement. The vast majority of suspensions that are handed down are the result of investigations by federal and state inspectors or local humane agents. Interestingly, many dogs rescued from puppy mills are AKC-registered, and the facilities previously inspected by the AKC.

Shockingly, while the AKC promotes the fact that it has promulgated "standards of care" for AKC breeders, when legislation was introduced in North Carolina to codify similar basic standards of care, the AKC actively worked in opposition to the legislation. The AKC is OK with standards of care as long as they are never enforced or codified into law. 

The entry fees for dog shows do not cover AKC expenses for sponsoring the shows; thus, registration fees subsidize AKC dog shows. The next time you watch a dog show on television, be aware that it is being supported on the backs of puppy mill dogs. -- Bob Baker, executive director, Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation (maal.org), St. Louis

DEAR B.B.: It is my understanding that you are with an organization that has inspected puppy mills, rescued puppies and adult breeding stock and sought to improve their care for several years and met resistance at every turn. In some states, local legislators and the oversight of agricultural and other official bodies still generally perceive these commercial dog farms as producing mere commodities, much like a poultry or pig factory farm. Such livestock producers see any legislation to improve dogs' welfare in these puppy factories as a potential threat to their own inhumane business practices.

I was one of the first in the United States to document these inhumane systems of food-animal production, and with the late Herm David, the first to blow the whistle on puppy mills in the 1970s. We shared our concerns with the American Kennel Club and the dog breeding community at large. The AKC's new voluntary Breed With H.E.A.R.T. program, which ostensibly addresses this issue, may be too little, too late.

Every purebred and "designer" puppy sold should come with a purchase agreement that includes the known list of genetic and related health problems that the particular breed and lineage may carry, the estimated veterinary costs for treating each condition and the probability of developing, plus an objective quality of life assessment score from zero to 5 stars. For more details, see my report "Recovering Canine Health," posted on my website, DrFoxVet.net.

TO HUG OR NOT TO HUG?

An April Psychology Today blog post has the misleading title "The Data Says 'Don't Hug the Dog!': New data shows that hugging your dog raises its stress and anxiety levels."

Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia, argues that hugging a dog may induce anxiety in the pet because it is wired to run and may feel trapped by a hug. Coren evaluated 250 photos of dogs being hugged by humans and noted stress signs, but he said his observations do not constitute a peer-reviewed study. Many have taken issue with how his article was interpreted by some media outlets.

My advice is to get puppies and kittens used to being held, cradled or gently restrained as soon as they are weaned so that they will be easier to handle and restrain -- especially for veterinary examinations and grooming later in life. Learn how to properly hold and hug, and prevent children from rushing to grab and seize any animal. Animals should never be treated like stuffed toys, because when scared, they will bite and scratch.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: We put a new flea collar on our 13-month-old mixed-breed dog last week. This dog has never chewed anything in our house. He is crated during the day while we are at work, and at night he sleeps on his bed (not crated); he has never chewed a shoe, slipper or anything.

Two days after putting on the collar, he destroyed an overnight bag sitting on the couch; he ate the bag, my husband's sweater, his dog bed and other reachable items. When we arrived home, he was panting from aggressively tearing apart a pillow. Could the flea collar have changed his personality to make him aggressive? -- A.R., Damariscotta, Maine

DEAR A.R.: Animals sometimes have unexpected and paradoxical reactions to certain medications and other products, like the terrier who was terrified after a few drops of calming essential oil of lavender was put on a bandana around the dog's neck.

While I have written repeatedly over these many years advising cat and dog owners not to use such chemical-releasing anti-flea collars and similar spot-on products and offered safer alternatives (which you can find on my website, DrFoxVet.net), your experience is notable. It means that one should not simply leave an animal alone after applying any such product, just in case the animal has an adverse behavioral or neurological reaction. I would like to hear from other readers with similar experience.

DEAR DR. FOX: My son adopted several cats who were homeless. He and my husband are currently not busy, so they think it is good parenting to feed them four times a day! As a result, more than one of them are now fat.

They give the cats wet canned food, and they leave out dry food continually. I do not want to see one or more of them get sick. How do I get two adults to use common sense and stop overfeeding these poor cats? They are all indoor cats, have been spayed or neutered and had their shots. I want to see these sweet cats live normal, healthy lives and grow old, not die young of obesity. What recourse do I have? -- T.J., Newark, New Jersey

DEAR T.J.: There are too many fat cats in America, and other countries, for multiple reasons. The main thing is feeding them the wrong kind of high-carbohydrate diet -- about 5 percent should be the max for these carnivores. Most dry foods have far too much, and I would not let them eat dry food from a dispenser whenever they want. Some cats do self-regulate, but others become addicted and pig out constantly.

The cats you are caring for should be fed four small meals a day. Cats prefer and are probably better at digesting small meals, rather than being fed twice a day, as is often the case.

We should also consider food addiction, which can lead to overeating and metabolic syndrome. Certain flavors or additives in pet foods may trigger hunger with a sudden insulin drop and even cause proliferation of dependent and demanding gut bacteria that influence dietary choices.

It would be good to weigh the cats before you start transitioning to the new feeding regimen. Give them a tablespoon of grain- and soy-free cat food (such as Orijen) and a tablespoon of good-quality grain-free canned or raw cat food. They may enjoy my home-prepared cat food recipe on my website.

The cats may initially protest and solicit their old food, so put some time in distracting them with interactive games, grooming and places -- such as a cat condo and padded window ledges -- to look out and entertain themselves.

Let me know your progress.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.net.)

DEAR DR. FOX: The American Kennel Club is not, as you stated, "simply a registry issuing pedigree papers, essentially without policing the sources the dogs come from -- notably puppy mills."

The AKC registers dogs. We do not register kennels or breeders. We are not a government organization. We can address only situations surrounding dogs that are registered with us. The AKC is dedicated to the well-being of all dogs; it in no way condones or supports substandard care or "puppy mills." If we find anyone engaging in behavior detrimental to the health of any dog, we report them to the local authorities.

AKC's compliance department conducts thousands of inspections every year of breeders who register their litters and dogs with us. We have strict policies. Breeders must adhere (to them) for proper care and conditions of the dogs.

The AKC has several options for breeder education and health testing, which include our Bred with H.E.A.R.T (health, education, accountability, responsibility and tradition) program and various breeder education courses (akc.org/dog-breeders/bred-with-heart/). These courses are free and consistently occuring to provide breeders with the most up-to-date knowledge possible. -- Brandi Hunter, vice president of public relations and communications for The American Kennel Club, New York City

DEAR B.H: Thank you for clarifying the scope of the AKC's involvement in purebred dogs. When an AKC-registered puppy develops health issues that veterinarians have confirmed and consider to be of hereditary origin, who should the dog owner contact? Are these concerns thereafter passed to the breeder? What corrective measures are initiated? Is this data stored and available to the public, including scientists, veterinarians and prospective purchasers?

DEAR DR. FOX: To answer your question, if a person purchases a puppy and the dog has health issues, there are state laws that protect the consumer. They can report an improper practice that way. The AKC is not a government agency, and we cannot shut down a breeder, nor can we take dogs off property. We do, however, in any case where a dog(s) is in any danger or being treated improperly, report the breeder to local authorities and sanction them where necessary. We do our best to inspect breeders who register with us. Ethical breeding is our ultimate goal; however, breeders and their breeding practices are the responsibility of the breeder. -- Brandi Hunter

DEAR DR. FOX: After a horrible crisis in December with my Saint Bernard, "Mary," I found myself advocating alongside 22 victim families who purchased dogs from one woman in upstate New York.

Our case has snowballed, uncovering 38 disturbing issues with a breeder who had assumed 20 business names. Seventy-six percent of our issues are genetic abnormalities traced to one specific bloodline, which registered through the AKC. The issues include renal disease, congenital kidney abnormality, ciliary dyskinesia, fibrosarcoma, urinary incontinence, chronic urinary infections, vision loss, multiple Addison disease cases, aggression and double hip, elbow and knee dysplasia diagnosed at six months.

I phoned the AKC and spoke with someone in case management. I relayed, as a genealogist, the findings. We were greatly concerned of the troubled outcome with our dogs, and we felt a pattern was emerging on the family tree, but we needed help. I offered the registry numbers for parent dogs, as many of their pups were ill or had died. I inquired if the AKC offered medical testing on behalf of the breeder. The representative said, "The AKC does not maintain health records for registered dogs."

I wanted data on litters registered to one sire in particular. He was a prime suspect carrier for renal disease and potentially had fathered 200-plus dogs. The representative could not help, but she suggested forwarding a complaint. She was very clear that the AKC investigation department could review, but at best, only be able to inspect premises and note care of current breeding stock.

She didn't offer a database for owners to check breeder ratings, nor did she share the ability to reference credentials of the breeders who participated in programs such as Bred with H.E.A.R.T. There was no way she could provide assurance for me that our breeder was "in good standing," without complaint or had been scrutinized for state licensing.

Later, we found that this breeder had been unlicensed by all authorities for 11 years. All the while, she registered many litters with the AKC.

To whose benefit are programs such as Bred with H.E.A.R.T. if members are not vetted prior to accreditation? These programs mean nothing to the families who seek guidance with a breeder prior to purchasing or thereafter if we cannot source pertinent data. After our ordeal, we set up an unethical breeder awareness website for advocacy purposes at unethicalbreederawareness.com. Our story is displayed there. -- T.V., Howell, New Jersey

DEAR T.V.: You have my sympathy and support, as do all the people with dogs who have serious and costly hereditary diseases that might have been avoided by breeders following up on the health of the puppies they produce (called progeny testing). I urge all concerned readers with any purebred dog with health issues diagnosed by a veterinarian as probably hereditary in origin to contact your newly formed group, Unethical Breeder Awareness.

(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

Visit Dr. Fox's website at DrFoxVet.net.)